Unique and rare ancient bronze bell from the Nguyen Dynasty.

According to Tran Phi Cong, Deputy Director of the Ha Tinh Provincial Museum, a rare and valuable ancient bronze bell, named Van Nghieu Tu Chung (Van Nghieu Pagoda Bell), dating back to the Nguyen Dynasty, is being preserved at the People's Committee of Thach Binh Commune (Ha Tinh City). It weighs approximately 25 kg, is 70 cm tall, has a mouth diameter of 35 cm, and a body height of 52 cm.

The bell of Wan Yao Temple

The bell is divided into three parts: the handle, the body, and the mouth. The handle is made of two dragons with their tails intertwined. The dragons' bodies are large and curved, making it convenient to hang the bell. The surface of the handle is decorated with stylized clouds, their backs have pointed, curved manes, and the two dragon heads are symmetrical on either side. Their mouths are wide open, revealing fangs and front molars, their noses are prominent, their eyes are wide open, and their whiskers extend long and bushy. The four large dragon legs, with their carp-like scales and four claws each, grip the head of the bell, creating a sense of solidity and stability.

The bell's body is a single, hollow, thick-walled cylindrical block of bronze, producing a resonant sound when struck. The upper part of the body is decorated with concentric circular raised ridges running around it, along with raised ridges running from top to bottom, dividing the bell into different sections and giving it an elegant appearance.

At the intersection of the raised ridges, there are four equally sized, round bell-ringing knobs shaped like chrysanthemum flowers. The upper part of the body is further decorated with four large, symmetrically arranged tiger-like figures, each holding one of the four Chinese characters indicating the bell's name. The tiger figures have raised noses, wide-open eyes, and numerous whiskers.

The mouth of the bell is elaborately decorated with geometric patterns of inverted T-shapes and concentric circles. The mouth of the bell flares out from the body, allowing the sound to resonate when rung.

Decorative carvings on the bell's body.

Van Nghieu Pagoda, also known as Neo Pagoda, was built next to the Neo ferry landing on the Nghieu Giang River (Phu River), formerly in Phat Nao commune, Thuong Nhi district, Thach Ha county, now Thach Binh commune, Ha Tinh city. Van Nghieu Pagoda was destroyed in 1945 and became a ruin; only the foundation and the bell remain.

The bell of Wan Yao Temple

According to Le Huu Son, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Thach Binh commune, the people in the commune consider this bell a local treasure and wish to continue preserving it so that it can be used and preserved when the Van Nghieu Pagoda historical and cultural relic is restored.